Photographic-printing machine.



No. 738,578. I I PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

C. SPAULDING.

PHOTOGRAPHIO PRINTING MACHINE.

AIPLIOATION FILED FEB. 5, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\AATNEEEEE- 1- INVENTUR.

PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

G. SPAULDING. PHOTOGRAPHIU PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION; FILED 1'33. 5, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

10 MODEL.

INVEN U WW-Q \MTNELEEEE- Q: Q.

No 738,578. 'PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1903. c. SPAULDING.

PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED P213. 5. 1903. no MODEL. 7 a SHEETS-SHEET a.

1 I ,f v /I r i 2 I M (3%) i E \A/ITNEEEEE- UNITED STATES Patented $eptember 8, 1903.

' PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SPAULDING, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PHOTOGRAPHIIC-PRINTING MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,578, dated September 8, 1903. Application filed February 5, 1903. Serial No. 141,949. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that 1, CHARLES SPAULDING,

of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State mechanism for operating the rolls. The drawing and print paper are placed together between the apron and drum at one point, are exposed to the light as the apron and drum travel together, and are discharged from between the apron and drum at another point.

The present invention has for its object to improve the said machine in certain particulars, the main objects of the improvement being to provide an even let-off tension on the apron, to facilitate rerolling of the apron, and to provide an improved operating and adjusting device for the tension or pulling roll at the take-up end of the machine.

Of the accompanying drawings, F igure 1 represents a rear elevationof a photographic printing machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 4 represents a detail side elevation of the brake or friction on the letoif roll.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, is a hollow box-like framing on top of which is a driving-motor 11, which communicates motion through a transmitting and speed-changing mechanism 12 to a vertical shaft 13 at one side of the machine.

14 is a loosely-journaled drum or cylinder partly encircled by a light transmitting or diaphanous apron 15, which normally unwinds from a'let-olf roll 16 and winds up on a take-up roll 17 18 19 are pulling or propelling rolls connected by gears 20 21, the lower roll being mounted in fixed bearings and driven by gearing 22 23 from the shaft 13, the upper roll being journaled in a pair of arms 24 24, pivoted at 25 25 to the framing. These arms are formed with apertures 26, occupied by eccentrics 27 on shafts 28. The latter are rotated by handles 29, whose movement of depression of the eccentrics is limited by adjustable stop screws 30. The rotation of the shafts 28 oscillates the arms 24 through the eccentrics 27 and moves the roll 19 toward or away from the roll 18. This establishes or releases the driving tension on the apron 15 and allows the same to be started and stopped. The eccentrics 27 within quite a large range will be irreversible by the upward reaction of roll 19, and said roll may accordingly be held in its operative relation with roll 18 without requiring the shafts 28 or arms 29 to be fastened. By adjusting the screws 30 I am enabled to vary the point of nearest approach of rolls 18 19 and to secure parallelism between the rolls 18 19.

' A friction take-up of the roll 17 is provided by making said roll vertically movable through a limiteddistance and resting it on friction-wheels 31 on a shaft 32, as described in my aforesaid patent. In the present instance, however, I drive shaft 32 by a pulley 33, connected by belt 34 with a pulley 35 on the shaft 36 of let-off roll 16, so that the rotation of said roll by the traction of the apron 15 rotates the take-up roll 17. together of rolls 16 17 by means of belt 34 enables me to positively operate both of said rolls in rewinding the apron,pulley 35 having a handle 37 for this purpose. Ithus secure an even travel and tension of the apron in rewinding. The long flexible belt-and-pulley connection of the rolls also permits the axial movement of the let-off roll 16, hereinafter described.

38 is a friction-brake encircling the shaft 36 to give proper tension to the apron and held from rotation by a chain 39, secured to a The gearing bracket 40 near the base of the frame and of face and offset is prevented.

sufficient length to allow for the axial movement of the roll 16.

The shaft 36 of letoff roll 16 is mounted in bearing-sleeves 41 41 and freely movable therein in an axial direction, so as to allow said roll to automatically assume slightly-different positions axially of the drum 14. The bearing or journal sleeves 41 are mounted for universal movement in the upper ends of two substantially vertical arms 42 42, pivoted at 43 43 to the sides of the framing and connected at their lower ends with springs 44, having an adjustment at 45 for regulating their tension. The universal joints are formed by mounting the sleeves 41 on pivots 46 46 in a collar 47, which is itself mounted on pivots 48 48 in the arm 42, the last said pivots being on an axis at right angles to the axis of the pivots 46.

49 49 are stops to limit the backward movement of the upper ends of the arms 42 in obedience to the pull of the springs 44.

The object of mounting the let-01f roll 16 in the described manner is to preserve an even tension on all parts of the apron 15, to prevent wrinkling of the apron, and to prevent slipping of the apron on the surface of the drum, which would have a tendency to offset the sensitized paper and the drawing and cause a blurring of lines on the print. If any irregularity, ridge, or seam occurs in the drawing or sensitized paper, causing a sudden jerk of the apron on the bearings of the let-off roll, this is compensated for by movement of the arms 42. If the pull is equal 011 both arms, they will depart an equal distance from their stops 49 against the tension of the springs 44. If the pull is greater onone arm than on the other, that arm will yield more than the other, so as to equalize the tension on the apron and keep it flat against the surface of the drum. If the apron tends to draw off more on one side than onthe other, the let-01f roll 16, by axial movement in its bearings, assumes a position with respect to the drum 14 which will equalize the tension and cause the apron to unwind flat and without wrinkling. By thus preserving the apron tight and flat against the surface of the drum at all times the drawings and prints are held under proper pressure throughout their sur- It will be seen that the axial movement of the let-off roll is readily permitted by the long flexible connections 34 39.

50 represents a shelf to hold the sheets of drawing and sensitive paper before their i11- troduction in the space between the drum l4 and apron 15, and 51 represents a shelf to receive the drawing and print after they have emerged from between the drum and apron. Either or both of the drawing and sensitive sheets 52 53 may be in short flat form or, as shown in the drawings, in a continuous form.

At the top of the framing is shown a shelf for, and a let-off roll for said apron mountedto yield in the direction of pull of the apron. 3. In a photographic-printing machine, the

combination of a light-transmitting, flexible,

traveling apron, take-up mechanism therefor, a let-off roll for said apron, and bearings at the respective ends of said roll mounted to yield independently in the direction of pull of the apron.

4. In a photographic-printing machine, the combination of a light-transmitting, flexible, traveling apron, take -up mechanism therefor, a let-off roll for said apron, bearings at the respective ends of said roll, and independently-pivoted yielding arms supporting said bearings and having universal connection therewith.

5. In a photographic-printing machine, the combination of a light-transmitting, flexible, traveling apron, takeup mechanism therefor, a let-off roll for said apron self-adjusting in an axial direction, and a flexible driving connection between said roll and take up mechanism, permitting the axial movement of said roll.

6. In a photographic-printing machine, the combination of a light-transmitting, flexible, traveling apron, take -up mechanism therefor, a let-off roll for said apron self-adjusting in an axial direction, a friction-brake for said roll, an anchorage, and a flexible connection between said anchorage and brake for restraining'rotation of said brake and permitting axial movement of the roll.

7. In a photographicprintin g machine, the combination of a light-transmitting, flexible, traveling apron, a take-up roll for said apron, mechanism for propelling the apron, a frictional slipping device for rotating said takeup roll, a let-off roll for the apron, and a driving connection between said let-off roll and friction device.

8. In aphotographic-printing machine, the combination of a light-transmitting, flexible, traveling apron, a let off mechanism therefor, a take-up mechanism, and an apron-pro pellin g mechanism including a prop ellin g-roll, a cooperating movable propelling-roll, pivoted arms supporting said movable roll, and eccentrics for oscillating said arms,

9. Ina photographic-printing machine, the combination of a light-transmitting, flexible,

traveling apron, a letoff mechanism there- I In testimony whereofIhave aifixed my sig for, a take-up mechanism, and an apron-pronature in presence of two Witnesses. pellin mechanism ineludin apropellin -roll a coep erating movable pro?)elling-rollfinde CHARLES SPAULDING' 5 pendently-pivoted arms supporting said mov- Witnesses 1 able roll, and a pair of independently-rotat- R. M; PIERSON,

ing eccentrics for oscillating said arms. A. C. RATIGAN. 

